Flores to Lombok
I spent a couple days wandering the street in Labuan Bajo because there is really only one that goes in a circle. I was surprised to see some new restaurants such as Bajo Taco where Adrienne has put together a great little Mexican oasis all the way out in Labuan Bajo. Besides Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas, and Ceviche she has added the colors and a pretty well stocked bar including Patron, Jose Cuervo, and the like. For our first night in town we all went to a restaurant called MadeinItaly and the chef and his well trained staff have put a four star restaurant on the Labuan Bajo road to great food map. Our guides were itching for a good pizza and copious amounts of wine after seven months in Raja Ampat, a ‘dry’ part of the world, but if you really want something, it can always be arranged. The captain and his boat crew and the dive guides are all now ‘home’ and have a week off before beginning 4-7 night trips on the Jaya in the Komodo/Flores area. MadeInItaly also has a boat that can be reserved for a minimum of 2 and up to 10 people as a charter, either way on land or at sea, you are in for a culinary Italian experience. theboat@miirestaurants.com. (+ 62 821 440 5441).
I hopped on another boat heading for Lombok, unfortunately we spent the night in the harbor the first night and woke to the Muslim prayer shout-out to the community at 5am and then the engines started up. Our first stop was back to the Komodo dragons but on a different island where saltwater crocodiles lurk under the Mangroves at the waters edge in the bays and coves. No swimming here. Those that went got some great photos of two Komodo dragons fighting. I didn’t go because my foot isn’t ready for walking in dust and dirt with flip-flops just yet. I sat on the boat with a few others and enjoyed the quiet.
When everyone returned we headed out into a strong current. We were underway for a few hours before we pulled into a small sheltered cove with a couple other boats with snorkeling guests and we joined in. We spent a little over an hour there with most people snorkeling and few others taking advantage of a nearby peak for some good overview photos. I did the mini version before the captain called us back and began heading west for a long crossing through out the night.
We arrived in a small village at about six a.m. We had a quick breakfast and most everybody ventured off through the jungle to a fresh water pool with a small waterfall and a rope swing. They said the water was refreshing while I sat on the boat in the scorching heat and sweated out a liter while reading a book or looking at photos.
Again we headed off west with still ten hours of traveling to do before we get to Lombok Island. We had one more stop for a swim but due to dynamite and cyanide fishing six years ago all the coral is gone. The fishermen have turned a beautiful coral slope into a veritable wasteland with no fish and lots of garbage caught on the dead coral. Since Flores floating garbage is a steady reminder of the hurdles of awareness we still need to cross.
The captain got some bad news that the other boat in port on Lombok is in the middle of getting a new engine so he has to beat feet to get there, reload, await customers and head back the same night. We arrived at about 430, ahead of schedule. This was in our favor because we still had a couple hours ride in a small van to get to Senggigi, the port on the west side facing Bali. A pair of English headed for Gili Trawangan had a taxi arranged and myself and a pair of ladies from Argentina all joined up because we wanted to stay on Gili Air. It went like clock work and we arrived on Gili Air at about 9 pm with all our traveling behind us. I came here to dive and see what they have to offer. I wasn’t disappointed. Next.
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